Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-13
The Battle OF Williamsburg.
fCorrespondence OF the Alexandria Gazette

The Battle OF Williamsburg.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.I
WILLIAMSBURG, Va, Oct. Sth, 1SS7.-A
visit to this old capital city of Virginia has
revived within me the remembrance of the
great battle which occurred here on the 9Th
day OF May, 1862, and in which the glorious
old 18th Virginia Regiment took so conspicu.
Gus u part; was there on Sunday aud as
the Queen Anne bell which hangs in the
tower OF the old church (and which was
present from her, aud contained within its
composition the silver and golden jeweiry of
that fair Queen, which was melted and
poured into The cast by her own fair haDd)
remained fumh-not calling The worshippers
10 aaJher into the old ivy covered church,
I concluded 20 take walk over the once
blood stained battle grounds in this vicinity.
The Hon Rich. Armisiead, Of this city,
kindly acted SIS MY escort, and together we
walked for miles around, viewing the old
forts, breastworss and bitches AS | was an
active participant in the engagement-being
at the time orderly sergeant of company A
will give few points that may interest at
least she old soldiers who were engaged in
thst battle which, in my opinion, was one
of the most stubboruly contested Gghts OF
the war
During two weeks experience in the mud.
dy breast works and rifle pits at Yorktown
we encountered all the discontinue posi-
ble from rain, wind and mud-the ground
being OF that spopgy nature that seemed to
hold the moisture 81 the surface; roads and
By ways were knee-deep in mire and the
rifle pits were, in some cases, half filled with
water I have often thought that old Corn
wallis Was not sucn q big fool after all for
throwing down bis arms and refusing to
fight lougsr in such dreary and inhospita
bio looking country as that surrounding
Yorktown, for such an experience as we had
would soon give any body of hired soldiers
full enough Of the glories of a war of inya-
sion.
After two weeks sojourn at Yorktown,
Gen Joseph E. Johnston commanding, the
order was given 10 evacuate, and we Were
nci sorry. Our retreat began On the even
ing of May 8, 1862, and after many delays
on account of the slow movements of artil-
lery and wagon trains we logged along at
very SLOW rate, spending the entire night in
| ae marsh, with mud almost up to our
knees, and reached Williamsburg at 10 q.
IN. on the morning of Sunday, the 4th, hay
| ing marched about twelve miles over the
worst roads I ever saw. We had good
rest that day and about dark we moved
| back and bivouaced in the grounds nea:
The asylum. All day our men. wagons and
artillery were moving toward Richmond,
| but we were held to act as rear guard.
The enemy not being very prompt to follow
Us, did not get up with US in force until
| Sunday afternoon, when some skirmishing
occurred, but that night their main army
reached us, ard deployed for regular
work on the morrow. On Monday we were
aroused by daylight and had our breakfast
early, as we expected orders every moment.
Every mar felt that we had hard day g
work before Us. Col. NJ. d. Corse, 1t. Col.
Morton Marye and Maj. Arthur Herbert,
were quietly moving around, talking with
the officers and men in manner we'll cal
eu!ated to inspire them. Adjutant Herbert
Bryant was also engaged in the same patri-
otic duty, and all the officers and men were
in fine spirits and ready for orders, which
arrived ct $50 q. u. The command to
'fal in" was given, and in few moments
we were marching through Williamsburg to
meet the advancing columns of the enemy.
We halted long enough to throw off our
knapsacks aud blankets, leaving a guard
with them, and at = quick step" soon left
Williamsburg in our rear. After marching
nearly mile, and before reaching Fort Ma.
gruder, which commanded the Yorktown
road, wa filed directly TO the right, at right
angles to the main road, into an open field
After the brigade had gotten out ofthe main
road the order was given to march by the
flank 10 the front. Only few moments
elapsed before we struck the enemy just as
we were entering the woods. We met no
struggling troops, but men in solid column
OF regiments who had been put into position
on ground of their own selection, but ne
matter to US The command to Charge
was given, and every man sprang to the
work with will, and it required but few
moments 10 break their first line. Thei
second line met us at charge. On we
went, charge against charge, and again we
broke their solid ranks. yhe fight had nov
opened al! along the lines. Fort Magrude
was pouring its deadly fire to right, left anC
front, but could do little for our relief, a
the enemy was strongly posted in the woods
( Again and again and again we charged
: driving them at every point, but stubbornll
!, did they resist our advances. Having
!, driven them through the woods probably {
mile, and defeated them in every charge
!. they found it impracticable to advance
again, so we held our ground until relieved
by other troops about dark, and then march
ed back to Williamsburg. Wet, hungry anG
tired we went into camp, with orders to b,
ready to march at $50 next morning, tn,
rear guard service being turned over to
fresh command. 1t can be truthfully ssit
that a. P. Hill's brigade, of which our OLE
, 17th Virginia was part, was instrumental
in breaking the force of the enemy's attacl
and driving him from his selected fghtin;
: ground. He did not trouble us further il
the retreat, and we had comparatively
quiet walk back. It rained almost continu
ousIy the day on which the battle wa